Sons of Aegyptus explained

In Greek mythology, the Sons of Aegyptus were the fifty progeny of the king of Egypt, Aegyptus. They married their cousins, the fifty daughters of Danaus, twin brother of Aegyptus. In the most common version of the myth, they were all killed except one, Lynceus, who was saved by his wife Hypermnestra on their wedding night.

Apollodorus

The list in the Bibliotheca^[1] preserves not only the names of brides and grooms, but also those of their mothers. A lot was cast among the sons of Aegyptus to decide which of the Danaids each should marry except for those daughters born to Memphis who were joined by their namesakes, the sons of Tyria. According to Hippostratus, Aegyptus had these progeny by a single woman called Eurryroe, daughter of Nilus.^[2]

Apollodorus' list of the sons of Aegyptus
Aegyptus' Sons		Mother	Danaids	Mother of the Danaids	Aegyptus' Sons		Mother	Danaids	Mother of the Danaids
1	Lynceus	Argyphia	Hypermnestra	Elephantis	26	Chrysippus	Tyria	Chrysippe	Memphis
2	Proteus		Gorgophone		27	Eurylochus	Caliadne, a naiad	Autonoe	Polyxo, a naiad
3	Busiris		Automate	Europe	28	Phantes		Theano
4	Enceladus		Amymone		29	Peristhenes		Electra
5	Lycus		Agave		30	Hermus		Cleopatra (different one)
6	Daiphron		Scaea		31	Dryas		Eurydice
7	Istrus	Arabian woman	Hippodamia	Atlanteia or of Phoebe,the Hamadryads	32	Potamon		Glaucippe
8	Chalcodon		Rhodia		33	Cisseus		Antheleia
9	Agenor		Cleopatra		34	Lixus		Cleodore
10	Chaetus		Asteria		35	Imbrus		Evippe (different one)
11	Diocorystes		Hippodamia (different one)		36	Bromius		Erato
12	Alces		Glauce		37	Polyctor		Stygne
13	Alcmenor		Hippomedusa		38	Chthonius		Bryce
14	Hippothous		Gorge		39	Periphas	Gorgo	Actaea	Pieria
15	Euchenor		Iphimedusa		40	Oeneus		Podarce
16	Hippolytus		Rhode		41	Aegyptus		Dioxippe
17	Agaptolemus	Phoenician woman	Pirene	Ethiopian woman	42	Menalces		Adite
18	Cercetes		Dorion		43	Lampus		Ocypete
19	Eurydamas		Phartis		44	Idmon		Pylarge
20	Aegius		Mnestra		45	Idas	Hephaestine	Hippodice	Herse
21	Argius		Evippe		46	Daiphron (different one)		Adiante
22	Archelaus		Anaxibia		47	Pandion		Callidice	Crino
23	Menemachus		Nelo		48	Arbelus		Oeme
24	Clitus	Tyria	Clite	Memphis	49	Hyperbius		Celaeno
25	Sthenelus		Sthenele		50	Hippocorystes		Hyperippe

Hyginus

Gaius Julius Hyginus' list is partially corrupt and some of the names (marked with *) are nearly illegible. Nevertheless, it is evident that this catalogue has almost nothing in common with that of Pseudo-Apollodorus.^[3]

Hyginus' list of the sons of Aegyptus
Aegyptus' Sons		Danaids	Aegyptus' Sons		Danaids	Aegyptus' Sons		Danaids	Aegyptus' Sons		Danaids	Aegyptus' Sons		Danaids
1	Antimachus	Midea	11	Mineus	Myrmidone	21	Niauius	Glaucippe	31	Polydector	Oeme	41	Dolichus	Pirene
2	Panthius	Philomela	12	Canthus	Eurydice	22	Pamphilus	Demophile	32	Itonomus	Polybe	42	Hyperbius	Eupheme
3	Proteus	Scylla	13	Asterius	Cleo	23	Clytus	Autodice	33	Cassus	Helicta	43	Podasimus	Themistagora
4	Plexippus	Amphicomone	14	Xanthus	Arcadia	24	Aegyptus	Polyxena	34	Hyperantus	Electra	44	Aristonoos	Celaeno
5	Agenor	Evippe	15	Metalces	Cleopatra	25	Dryas	Hecabe	35	Demarchus	Eubule	45	Antiochus	Itea
6	Chrysippus	Demoditas	16	Philinus	Phila	26	Ecnomius	Acamantis	36	Pugno	Daplidice	46	Eudaemon	Erato
7	Perius	Hyale	17	Protheon	Hipparete	27	Ephialtes	Arsalte	37	Andromachus	Hero	47	Pelops	Danaïs
8	Enceladus	Trite	18	Asterides	Chrysothemis	28	Eurysthenes	Monuste	38	Athletes	Europome	48	Hermus	Cleopatra
9	Amyntor	Damone	19	Athamas	Pyrante	29	Midanus	Amymone	39	Plexippus	Pyrantis	49	Lynceus	Hypermnestra
10	Obrimus	Hippothoe	20	Armoasbus	?	30	Evidea	Helice	40	Antipaphus	Critomedia	50	?	?

References

• Gaius Julius Hyginus, Fabulae from The Myths of Hyginus translated and edited by Mary Grant. University of Kansas Publications in Humanistic Studies. Online version at the Topos Text Project.
• John Tzetzes, Book of Histories, Book VII-VIII translated by Vasiliki Dogani from the original Greek of T. Kiessling's edition of 1826. Online version at theio.com
• Pseudo-Apollodorus, The Library with an English Translation by Sir James George Frazer, F.B.A., F.R.S. in 2 Volumes, Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1921. Online version at the Perseus Digital Library. Greek text available from the same website.

Notes and References

1. [Pseudo-Apollodorus]
2. [John Tzetzes]
3. [Hyginus]